"MOT and interim service carried out. Service and quality of workmanship is always excellent, and I was kept well informed of any problems and how to rectify them.
Good honest garage and reasonable prices."

"I was very happy ,Daisy was pleasant and helpful and there was somewhere to sit if waiting. I went for a walk and received my cars health check via a video text .and the car was ready in the estimated time.
The only slight problem is parking , it can be difficult to find a space as there is no designated area for the workshop / service"

What is a cambelt?

A cambelt (also known as timing belt) is a crucial part of your car's engine. It’s a rubber belt with teeth on it which keeps the crank and camshaft timed properly and ensures that the two halves of the engine are synchronised. It ensures that the engine’s valves open and close at the correct times during the cylinder intake and exhaust strokes. It’s extremely important that these valves open in time, so they don’t hit the engine’s pistons (which would severely damage the internals of the engine).

How long does a cambelt last?

Cambelts should be replaced at certain mileage or time intervals. This could be anything from 40,000 miles up to 100,000 miles or 5 years; your car’s manual should specify the recommended change frequency for your specific vehicle. We strongly advise that you adhere to this guidance, which varies from car to car. If you've purchased a second-hand car and are unsure about when the cambelt was last changed, don't delay - have a garage check its condition. On the BookMyGarage service schedule, which is followed by all garages booked through BookMyGarage, the cambelt is examined on the Full and Major service intervals.

What are the possible signs that a car needs a new cambelt?

Unfortunately there aren't any particular warning signs that a cambelt needs replacing;
they can wear out over time or they can suddenly fail.
However, if you do hear any strange noises from your engine, don't run the risk;
use Book My Garage to find a reputable, trusted garage near you to check it out.

Some signs to look out for:

Your engine stops suddenly, and the engine will not turn over on the key.

Your car will not start, accompanied by a clunking noise from inside the engine.

What's involved with cambelt repair?

It is usually a straightforward job to replace a cambelt / timing belt,
but it can be quite labour intensive, and you may find you need to
have your water pump replaced at the same time. Furthermore, if your cambelt does break,
it can cause major damage to other parts of your engine.

What causes cambelt problems?

There are many different reasons as to why a cambelt may fail. It’s important to have your cambelt examined for the following things:

Misalignment. This is one of the main causes of a cambelt failure. This can be caused by uneven or excessive tooth wear.

Under-tensioned belt. This can cause uneven tooth wear and excessive drive noise. A tension gauge can be used to set the correct tension on the timing belts.

Damaged belt. This will cause wear and/or damage of the belt and significantly reduce belt life. Have the belt inspected and replaced if it shows any signs of wear or damage.

Debris. This is often overlooked, but debris can cause many different problems. Dirt can rub on the belt and oil can attack the belt materials.

Can you drive your car with a snapped cambelt?

You will not be able to drive your car with a snapped cambelt. It is therefore very important to have your cambelt checked annually at the very least, as if your cambelt snaps it can cause serious irreversible damage to your car’s engine. You will need to have it fixed by a mechanic before driving the car again.

In most instances, drivers will have no warning that the belt is going to snap. When it does it happens suddenly, often resulting in an instant loss of power, as if you have run out of fuel, regardless of how fast or slow you are driving.

Although it can seem expensive to replace a cambelt, it will be a lot cheaper than trying to resolve any engine issues caused by a snapped cambelt.

How long does a cambelt replacement take?

It’s often a big job as it can involve taking part of the engine apart and putting it back together, so replacing a cambelt can take a few hours.

How much does a cambelt replacement cost?

The cost of a cambelt replacement can vary between £200 and over £1,000. It all depends on the make of your vehicle and the garage that you choose to do the work.

We strongly recommend booking your car in for a service at least once a year to ensure that your cambelt is checked annually (amongst many other crucial components of your car). As mentioned above, all of the servicing bookings made through BookMyGarage will follow our industry approved service schedules. You’ll see that cambelt checks are included in Full and Major services. Enter your car registration number and post code into our comparison tool and instantly compare prices from the garages in your local area. You’ll also be able to see their reviews, location, availability and other serviced offered. When you have selected a suitable garage, choose a day and book your service online. If your cambelt has snapped, select ‘A car problem or repair’ from the list and you can choose a garage to replace your cambelt, based on their hourly labour rates.

Driving in Portsmouth

This waterfront city in Hampshire is the most densely populated city in the UK. This means that traffic can build at Portsmouth’s rush hour, but that it’s also packed with things to do and see for all ages.

Tourists are drawn to the area for its proximity to the sea, but Portsmouth’s naval history is also a prominent feature with numerous related attractions, such as The Historic Dockyard, the D-Day Museum, the Royal Naval Museum, and the Royal Marines Museum. A number of iconic ships adorn the dockyard such as the HMS Victory, the HMS Warrior and Henry VIII’s Tudor warship the Mary Rose. For those who can handle heights, there are marvellous views from the observation deck of the Spinnaker Tower, a sweep of glass and steel shaped like a sail, which lays claim to being Britain's tallest tower outside London.

Portsmouth has a prestigious literary history and is the birthplace of many celebrated authors from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to Michelle Magorian, H.G. Wells to Neil Gaiman and most notably, Charles Dickens. The modest house in Old Commercial Road was his former abode and has been restyled to resemble the original Dickens family home.